Volusia Council Picks Virginian To Lead County

After A Year Of Battles, The Council Chooses Prince William County's Executive As County Manager On The First Ballot.

April 8, 1995|By Blake Fontenay of The Sentinel Staff

DELAND — More than a year after Volusia County Manager Tom Kelly announced plans to retire, the County Council finally broke a long-running political stalemate by picking his replacement Friday.

By selecting James Mullen, county executive for Prince William County, Va., the council put an end to what many critics consider to be an embarrassing and downright bizarre chapter in the county's history.

It was the first time a Volusia council had gone through the process since Kelly was chosen as the inaugural manager under charter government 25 years ago - and it sometimes showed.

Although council members vowed at the outset to conduct a highly professional (read: uneventful) search, the 14-month process was pockmarked by a slew of strange developments:

A group of gadflies became dissatisfied with an appointed search committee's progress and placed unofficial help-wanted ads in several newspapers around the country.

One candidate - Norman Hickey - lost front-runner status overnight after a behind-the-scenes effort to install him prematurely failed, leading to months of gridlock.

Then-council member Don Wiggins, viewed as a potential swing vote to end the gridlock last year, was an unexplained no-show during a crucial round of candidate interviews.

Former Gwinnett County, Ga., Manager Charles Button, one vote away from winning the job last year, was omitted from a consultant's list of recommended finalists this year.

Three leading candidates withdrew their names from consideration last year, two of them over concerns about the county's search process. Both of those two - one of whom was Mullen - reapplied this year and became finalists.

The history didn't matter Friday. Mullen quickly emerged as a consensus choice, winning the required five of seven votes on the first ballot. Council members Phil Giorno and Freddye Moore were the dissenters - throwing their support to Hickey, former city manager of Daytona Beach and Titusville. After the first ballot, the council voted again to confirm Mullen as a unanimous choice.

Both votes were interrupted by applause from the audience.

There are still a few details to iron out: Mullen's hiring won't become official until his contract has been negotiated and background and medical checks have been done.

The county has spent about $70,000 on the search to date, with about $11,000 worth of bills outstanding. That total doesn't include the latest expenses incurred by candidates who interviewed this week or time spent by staff in the county's personnel office.

Council members - including three rookies who weren't involved in last year's controversy - said they were happy to be so close to resolving an issue that loomed since Kelly announced his retirement plans in February 1994.

''It's a relief,'' council member Pat Northey said. ''But more importantly, I'm proud of the professionalism shown by this sitting council.''

The search seemed to deteriorate last fall after a group of east Volusia power brokers lobbied council members to circumvent the formal interview process and hire Hickey. The council majority balked, instead agreeing to interview the finalists recommended by the citizens committee - including Hickey.

In a series of meetings afterward, three members consistently supported Hickey while four united behind other candidates. Since the county's charter requires a two-thirds majority to pick a manager, no decision could be made.

Two of Hickey's opponents and one supporter left the council after last year's elections. The new council - rookies and veterans alike - pledged to avoid last year's missteps.

Hickey, a South Daytona resident, and Acting County Manager Richard Kelton were the only two Volusia residents among the finalists. Both said they wish Mullen and the council well.

''I think they (council members) made the decision that they thought was in the best interests of the county,'' said Kelton, a longtime staff member under Kelly's tenure.